Turner backing Bernie

Nina Turner, a former state senator and a top Ohio Democratic Party official, is throwing her support to Bernie Sanders for president.

“Sen. Turner is nationally known as a voice for voting rights, for workers’ rights and for marginalized people. The support of someone with that record of standing up for middle-income and working people is tremendously important,” said Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver in a written statement. “We are extremely, extremely humbled by the support of Sen. Nina Turner.”

Turner told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: “I’m very attracted by his message and his style and that he has held pretty much strong on his beliefs and the world is catching up with him.”

Turner, who ran unsuccessfully for Ohio Secretary of State in 2014 and is considered a contender for Cleveland mayor in 2017, will take a leave of absence from the state party, where he serves as chair of party engagement. Turner will appear with Sanders on Monday night at a rally at Cleveland State University.

Turner previously supported Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton. Turner started her political career as an aide to former state senator and Dayton mayor Rhine McLin.